Amina Al-Sarrafi, the Tunisian Minister of Culture, revealed a substantial budget increase for cultural initiatives in the country, highlighting the government’s commitment to enhancing its cultural landscape.
During a joint session between the House of Representatives and local authorities on Sunday, November 17, 2024, Al-Sarrafi unveiled plans for an ambitious cultural agenda in 2025, which will focus on supporting major festivals and cultural events.
The Ministry of Culture has allocated a remarkable budget of 226 million 861 thousand dinars to these initiatives, marking a staggering increase of over 220% compared to the current year’s budget.
This increase represents more than half of the Ministry’s overall budget, reflecting the significant priority given to cultural programming.
Al-Sarrafi emphasized that the rise in funding is intended to support the redistribution of personnel across various cultural programs, ensuring that resources are efficiently directed to areas of greatest impact.
In addition, the Ministry has set aside 37 million dinars for special intervention expenditures aimed at boosting cultural activities in regions across the country.
The Minister stated, “The cultural axis is one of the most important areas of focus for the Ministry in 2025.
With this enhanced budget, we are not only reinforcing our commitment to large-scale festivals but also fostering greater regional engagement with culture.”
She added that these efforts are part of a broader strategy to invigorate the cultural sector, encourage local participation, and elevate the nation’s artistic offerings on the global stage.
The move comes as part of a wider governmental push to promote the nation’s cultural heritage, enhance tourism, and provide more opportunities for local artists and communities to engage with the country’s vibrant cultural scene.
The increase in funding signals a promising future for cultural development in the region, one that aligns with the country’s broader economic and social objectives.
